Recording streaming delta-encoded data

Abstract

Apparatus having corresponding methods, computer-readable media, and data structures comprise an input circuit adapted to receive a stream of delta-encoded data; a record circuit adapted to store the stream of delta-encoded data in a stream file; a current frame circuit adapted to maintain a current frame of the data based on the stream of delta-encoded data; a record frame circuit adapted to store the current frame in a frame file as an intraframe with a frame pointer at a plurality of different index times, wherein each frame pointer indicates a location in the stream file associated with the respective index time; and a record index circuit adapted to store the index times sequentially in an index file, and adapted to store an index pointer for each index time, wherein each index pointer indicates a location in the frame file of the intraframe associated with the respective index time.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus comprising:
 an input circuit configured to receive a stream of delta-encoded data; 
 a record circuit configured to store the stream of delta-encoded data in a stream file; 
 a current frame circuit configured to maintain a current frame of the data based on the stream of delta-encoded data; 
 a record frame circuit configured to store the current frame in a frame file as an intraframe with a frame pointer at a plurality of different index times, wherein each frame pointer indicates a location in the stream file associated with the respective index time; and 
 a record index circuit configured to store the index times sequentially in an index file, and configured to store an index pointer for each index time, wherein each index pointer indicates a location in the frame file of the intraframe associated with the respective index time. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 :
 wherein the stream of delta-encoded data includes a plurality of packets of video data; and 
 wherein the record circuit stores the packets in the stream file. 
 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the video data complies with at least one of:
 one or more of the Video Coding Experts Group (VCEG) standards; and 
 one or more of the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) standards. 
 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 2 :
 wherein the stream of delta-encoded data includes a plurality of real-time protocol (RTP) packets, wherein each RTP packet includes at least a portion of one of the packets of the video data; and 
 wherein the record circuit stores the RTP packets in the stream file. 
 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 :
 wherein the RTP packets are received using transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP). 
 
     
     
       6. An apparatus comprising:
 input means for receiving a stream of delta-encoded data; 
 recording means for storing the stream of delta-encoded data in a stream file; 
 current frame means for maintaining a current frame of the data based on the stream of delta-encoded data; 
 record frame means for storing the current frame in a frame file as an intraframe with a frame pointer at a plurality of different index times, wherein each frame pointer indicates a location in the stream file associated with the respective index time; and 
 record index means for storing the index times sequentially in an index file, and for storing an index pointer for each index time, wherein each index pointer indicates a location in the frame file of the intraframe associated with the respective index time. 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6 :
 wherein the stream of delta-encoded data includes a plurality of packets of video data; and 
 wherein the means for recording stores the packets in the stream file. 
 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the video data complies with at least one of:
 one or more of the Video Coding Experts Group (VCEG) standards; and 
 one or more of the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) standards. 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 7 :
 wherein the stream of delta-encoded data includes a plurality of real-time protocol (RTP) packets, wherein each RTP packet includes at least a portion of one of the packets of the video data; and 
 wherein the record circuit stores the RTP packets in the stream file. 
 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 :
 wherein the RTP packets are received using transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP). 
 
     
     
       11. Non-transitory computer-readable media embodying instructions executable by a computer to perform a method comprising:
 receiving a stream of delta-encoded data; 
 storing the stream of delta-encoded data in a stream file; 
 maintaining a current frame of the data based on the stream of delta-encoded data; 
 storing the current frame in a frame file as an intraframe with a frame pointer at a plurality of different index times, wherein each frame pointer indicates a location in the stream file associated with the respective index time; and 
 storing the index times sequentially in an index file, and for storing an index pointer for each index time, wherein each index pointer indicates a location in the frame file of the intraframe associated with the respective index time. 
 
     
     
       12. The computer-readable media of  claim 11 :
 wherein the stream of delta-encoded data includes a plurality of packets of video data; and 
 wherein the method further comprises storing the packets in the stream file. 
 
     
     
       13. The computer-readable media of  claim 12 , wherein the video data complies with at least one of:
 one or more of the Video Coding Experts Group (VCEG) standards; and 
 one or more of the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) standards. 
 
     
     
       14. The computer-readable media of  claim 12 :
 wherein the stream of delta-encoded data includes a plurality of real-time protocol (RTP) packets, wherein each RTP packet includes at least a portion of one of the packets of the video data; and 
 wherein the method further comprising storing the RTP packets in the stream file. 
 
     
     
       15. The computer-readable media of  claim 14 :
 wherein the RTP packets are received using transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP). 
 
     
     
       16. A data structure embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the data structure comprising:
 a stream file comprising a stream of delta-encoded data; 
 a frame file comprising
 a plurality of intraframes each representing the delta-encoded data preceding a different index time, and 
 a frame pointer for each of the intraframes, wherein each frame pointer indicates a location in the stream file for the index time corresponding to the respective intraframe; and 
 
 an index file comprising
 the index times arranged in sequence, and 
 an index pointer for each of the index times, wherein each index pointer indicates a location in the frame file for the intraframe corresponding to the respective index time. 
 
 
     
     
       17. The data structure of  claim 16 :
 wherein the stream of delta-encoded data includes a plurality of packets of video data. 
 
     
     
       18. The data structure of  claim 17 , wherein the video data complies with at least one of:
 one or more of the Video Coding Experts Group (VCEG) standards; and 
 one or more of the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) standards. 
 
     
     
       19. The data structure of  claim 17 :
 wherein the stream of delta-encoded data includes a plurality of real-time protocol (RTP) packets, wherein each RTP packet includes at least a portion of one of the packets of the video data.